Support Groups

A family with a child newly diagnosed with
heart disease faces many levels of anxiety and stress. In addition, children who grow up with heart disease face significant physical and emotional challenges.

Because we're committed to family-centered care at Cincinnati Children's Heart Institute, we provide support groups tailored specifically for families of children with heart disease. Families are invited to participate in these support groups in which parents and children can learn from each other. Support group members sponsor an annual summer picnic, and they are involved in other events such as a family retreat weekend and a week-long summer camp for kids with heart conditions.

Family Retreat Weekend

The Heart Institute Family Retreat Weekend is designed specifically for families of children affected with heart disease. The weekend is full of fun family activities, informational sessions for parents, and sharing with other families who have had similar experiences. Activities are planned throughout the day for all ages. The cost is $50 per family.

Learn more about the Heart Institute Family Retreat Weekend. For more information, call Ali Barnes at 513-803-1841 or email
heartcamp@cchmc.org .

Mended Little Hearts of Cincinnati

Mended Little Hearts of Cincinnati provides families, caregivers, and patients with heart defects and heart disease an outlet through which they can find answers, education, resources and access to local-based peer-to-peer support. With Mended Little Hearts, patients with congenital heart defects (CHD) and their families find strength and understanding from those who share the same experience. The Cincinnati chapter is one of 85 Mended Little Hearts chapters around the nation. It is volunteer based and is organized and run by local Heart families and CHD patients, who can truly relate to the concerns of Congenital Heart Disease.

Meeting Notice : Join Mended Little Hearts the third Friday of every month at Cincinnati Children's. Childcare is provided for our families.

Next meeting: Join us and Mended Little Hearts on Friday, March 20 at 7 p.m. for Therapy and Show and Tell. You will learn about the different types of therapy including: Cardiac rehabilitation, pet therapy and holistic therapyWhere: Cincinnat Children's, D2.27, childcare is availableRSVP: Please RSVP to mlhcincinnati@gmail.com, but as always, feel free to also just drop-in

Mended Little Hearts of Cincinnati also has a support program for teens and adults born with Congenital Heart Disease called Surviving CHD. This program works side by side with Cincinnati Children's Adolescent and Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program to provide transitional support, emotional support, education and advocacy for patients.

Membership is free for both groups and has no obligation. To connect with others, visit
www.mendedlittlehearts.org and select Cincinnati as the chapter/group.

Disclaimer: Although Mended Little Hearts of Cincinnati collaborates with Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center it is not affiliated with the hospital. Mended Little Heart National is a program of the nationally recognized nonprofit organization, Mended Hearts. Inc.